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oe Smith was born in 1971 into a gypsy family, his formative years spent travelling around England in a caravan whilst his father dealt in scrap metal and his mother sold lucky heather. As a six-year-old he was encouraged by his grandfather Rymer to reject a family tradition of bare-knuckle fighting and boxing and take up the unlikely sport of golf. The boy quickly displayed a natural gift and prowess way beyond his years. When Rymer suffered a heart attack and died on the golf course Joe promised his grandfather he would fulfil his dream and one day become a professional golfer. Cups and trophies followed, culminating in victory at the London Junior Open at just 15. Joe' s future seemed mapped out for him and it was one he eagerly anticipated. Not everyone was so happy about the gypsy boy' s success though and some charges were laid against him at his beloved golf club where he was champion and he was asked to leave. The effect on Joe' s self-esteem, confidence and game were devastating and as anger burned inside him he fell into a life of bare-knuckle fighting and later petty crime. His role models were now thugs and crooks, no longer sportsmen. Adept with his fists Joe soon became known as an up and coming bare-knuckle man and he found his muscle was in demand for hire. Only when he was facing a lengthy prison sentence or even a bullet in the head did he reflect on the perilous course his life was now taking. Remembering his promise to Rymer he spurned the underworld and returned to his golf where he tortuously worked on building up his confidence and reducing his handicap. Slowly but surely he turned professional and competed at the highest levels narrowly missing qualifying for the British Open on three occasions. Along the way he decided to fight legitimately too and worked his way rapidly through the Unlicensed Heavyweight ranks to become London champion. Gypsy Joe is not only a story of redemption but an uplifting account of a young man determined to realise his dreams regardless of his background.
